Re: Article length

**"* L* B* <S*@cox.net>**

Andrew writes that despite being asked to do otherwise, he's going to
produce 1200 to 1500 words a week...and it's "the editor's problem" if she
and the publisher "want to  edit it down to 750 words..."

I'm astonished. Fewer words and more photos are a reality with today's print
media. You can write more, but it won't be read. During my 20-year career,
I've written 1,500 words on obscure topics and 250 words on grand ones. It's
all about the space available and the publication's needs. As for turning in
more words than necessary, who's got time for that? I believe it's
professional suicide to be known as a writer who causes editors extra work. 

When I want to write with total artistic freedom, I blog. (Incidentally, I
call my postings "photo essays," because I don't like "blog"---ugly little
word!) As content providers, it's crucial that we understand our audiences.
Nowadays we're only a mouse click away from losing them. If people want eye
candy with captions, so be it. Why would anyone blather to an empty room?

Debra Lee Baldwin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Debra Lee Baldwin
Garden Photojournalist
Author, Designing with Succulents
           Succulent Container Gardens
www.debraleebaldwin.com 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me on Facebook, LinkedIn 
   and Twitter (@DebraLBaldwin)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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